Adopted by my Future Self

By Lawrence C Qualey

A silly new tale from the Qualeyverse has arrived!

Saul Paulson is a fifteen-year-old boy living in the city of Evergreen Canyon, just living an average life alongside his friend Kaleb and girlfriend Cecilia. All of that changes on one seemingly-normal day, and he suddenly finds himself fifteen years in the future! Not only has

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lawrence C. Qualey
• Release date: Jan 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9798218136864

Book preview

Adopted By My Future Self

By Lawrence C. Qualey

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2023 by Lawrence C. Qualey

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: [e-mail]

ISBN (Paperback): 9798218136857

ISBN (eBook): 9798218136864

Table of Contents

Chapter One: School’s Out

Chapter Two: Confused and Scared

Chapter Three: Thinking on the Fly

Chapter Four: Doppel-Chaser

Chapter Five: Lunchtime Blasphemy

Chapter Six: Harsh New Reality

Chapter Seven: Family Reunion

Chapter Eight: Same City, New City

Chapter Nine: Tense Dinner Conversation

Chapter Ten: Running in the Dark

Chapter Eleven: Youth VS Experience

Chapter Twelve: Time to Talk

Chapter Thirteen: The Last Thread

Chapter Fourteen: Possibilities

Chapter Fifteen: Adopted By My Future Self

Chapter One

School’s Out

Saul Paulson is a regular high school student attending Evergreen Canyon High School, in the city of the same name in the state of California. At the age of fifteen, he is currently a freshman experiencing many things for the first time. Many changes have left him whirling, scholastically as well as biologically.

Every day he does his best to cope with things he doesn’t understand; puberty, advanced arithmetic, extracurricular activities, the whole deal. Some days feel rougher than others, but he manages to get through each one with a smile on his face and satisfaction in his heart. Surrounded by his friends, he manages to persevere through the hardships that often plague the American teenager.

On this Friday afternoon, as with countless others, he finds himself wandering around his school after classes have finished. Accompanying him is his best friend, Kaleb Adams. The two are simply wandering around, neither one wanting to begin their separate walks home just yet.

So, tell me something, Saul requests loudly. Why is it that a company can make a fortune by remaking public domain ideas, and then sue other companies for trying to do the same thing?

Corporations are corrupt, man, Kaleb replies coolly. Once you get to the point that you’ve got shareholders, you’ve lost all integrity you may have had.

Saul shakes his head, That’s messed up. What’s this world coming to when people can’t rip each other off blatantly?

The two friends begin laughing violently, obviously thinking they’re hilarious. They sit down in the middle of the hallway, tossing their backpacks carelessly to the ground as they do so. They continue idly chatting about things that make them feel important, watching their peers come and go quickly as they go to their various after school activities.

Saul! a voice calls out from nearby. There you are!

Upon hearing the voice, Saul instantly jumps to his feet and begins looking around. He spots the source of the voice and feels his face begin blushing furiously. He waves at the girl that the voice had come from; his new girlfriend Cecilia Gomez. She quickly makes her way over to Saul and Kaleb, oblivious to Kaleb’s presence.

H-hey there, Saul stutters nervously. How was class?

Cecilia rolls her eyes, Oh, you know. All that exciting journalism classwork kept me pretty busy.

She giggles, and Saul instantly feels butterflies in his stomach. The two hadn’t been together long, but he was head over heels in love. Her mere presence lit up the world around him, and he was positive that their connection was one that could last for lifetimes.

I bet, he quickly replies. Mrs. Thomas can be a bit of a hard-ass, can’t she?

No doubt, Cecilia nods, smiling. How are you?

Saul smirks, Great, now that you’re here. I’ll be in pain in a few seconds when you’re gone.

Cecilia wraps her arms around him, We’ll be able to do this! Suffer through the weekend until we see each other again on Monday!

Kaleb begins fake-puking behind Saul, Oh my god, it’s so disgustingly sweet! It’s like being drowned in liquid sweetness!

Cecilia’s eyes dart down in Kaleb’s direction, I’m sorry, next time I see my boyfriend I’ll act like a lonely asshole, like you.

I’m sorry friend, Saul says unapologetically. Would you like some aloe vera for that incredibly severe burn?

Kaleb pretends to faint, theatrically falling onto his side. Cecilia and Saul both chuckle, continuing their embrace. After a few more moments, she looks into his eyes.

You be careful on your way home, alright? she pleads, eyes filled with concern.

Saul smiles and nods, Absolutely. You’re the boss.

The couple kiss, and their embrace ends. She pats him on the cheek and begins walking away. Kaleb gets to his feet and pats his friend on the shoulder.

She must really like you, he muses as Saul watches his girlfriend walk away. "Because she really hates me."

The two erupt into another violent fit of laughter, catching the attention of their least-favorite teacher; Mr. Vail, the cranky gym teacher. The faculty member begins shuffling his 55-year-old frame toward the two, shouting as he does so.

Adams! Paulson! What are you delinquents doing?!

Without hesitation, the duo snatches their bags and begin sprinting out of the school, the angry shouts of their teacher fading behind them. They burst through the nearby doors and exit to the freedom of the school parking lot. Once they reach the edge of the parking lot, they stop to catch their breath.

That was scary, Kaleb pants, clutching his side.

I’ll say, Saul replies. I don’t know what we did, but I wasn’t sticking around long enough to find out.

After a few more moments, the two friends high-five each other and begin looking in